About a month ago I had a very interesting conversation with my friend Bryan Walsh about Toastmasters.

He asked me “What do you think about the new branding and information being put out from Toastmasters International.”

“From what I have seen so far it is fine.  I haven’t had time to go through it all though.  Why?”

“I have had some people voice their concerns that Toastmasters is getting away from its core.”

“Getting away from its core.  What do you mean?”

“Toastmasters used to be all about communications and now there appears to be a strong focus on leadership.”

“Before Toastmasters was all about communications?  Is that what everyone got from being a member? Being a better communicator.  I can see that, but is that the only thing everyone got from it?  For the clubs I have been a member of it goes well beyond just being a better communicator.

To get a better understanding of what Toastmasters has been about I think we should be asking ourselves why do most people first attend a Toastmasters meeting, what do they get from joining and participating in the meetings, and what impact does Toastmasters have on its members?

I will answer these questions with what I have observed from my home club “Constructive Speakers” over the years.

Why do most people first attend a meeting?  Usually to work on their public speaking abilities.  They may want to overcome a fear of having to get up and speak in front of other people, give presentations, or lead meetings.

What do they get from joining and participating in the meetings?  After attending a meeting most people realize it is a lot more than just practicing giving speeches and presentations.  There is the opportunity to work on formal speeches but there are also opportunities to work on impromptu speeches, listening skills, providing feedback (written and verbal), receiving feedback, running meetings, time management, networking, and much more.  There  are also opportunities to hold Club Officer roles, having a mentor, mentoring others, and leading projects.

What impact does Toastmasters have on its members?  One of the biggest impacts I think Toastmasters has had on the members in my clubs over the years is confidence.  It has helped to build and instill confidence in them to grow and take on different challenges in both their professional and personal lives.

In Constructive Speakers over the years I have seen individuals get promotions at their current company, change companies, start their own company, go back to college to further their education, get involved in the community, coach youth sports, give presentations and demos for large audiences, get interviewed on TV, get featured in local newspapers, and many other opportunities and achievements.  In each and every case the individuals have credited Toastmasters for helping them to accomplish what they have.

For me personally since joining Toastmasters I have been promoted to a leadership role at the company I work, expanded on my role as a coaching with youth basketball, and volunteer regularly to speak at local elementary schools.  Toastmasters has helped with all of these.  However the real value I have received is that it has provided me the opportunity to reflect on what I feel is important in my life personally and professionally, find my voice, and to hone my message whether I am communicating with my family, at work, with the kids I coach, the individuals I mentor, or just out in the community.

Getting back to the question of whether Toastmasters is getting away from its core.

I believe Toastmasters has always been about helping others to grow and develop their skills in Communications, Leadership, and building self-confidence.

Almost every person that I have met in Toastmasters over the years has had different strengths and weakness in an area or areas that being a member of Toastmasters helps with.

As a Toastmaster I feel it is our responsibility to provide an environment where people can come and work on their own areas of development.  Whether it be in Communications, Leadership, Confidence, or something else closely related.